Five for Friday: Five biggest challenges on the Ravens schedule

1. Opening on the road against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

We knew that when the Ravens and Orioles couldn't reach an agreement to keep the home opener in Baltimore, the likely scenario was that the Ravens open on the road against the Broncos. Some have said the Ravens are being sent to the lion's den, having to play the revenge-minded Broncos after an angry offseason. Plus, there is the whole Peyton factor. But let's not forget how good the Ravens have been under John Harbaugh when getting extra time to prepare for a game. They have never lost a season opener and they are undefeated the week after the bye week. And, oh yeah, there was that whole Super Bowl thing.

We knew that when the Ravens and Orioles couldn't reach an agreement to keep the home opener in Baltimore, the likely scenario was that the Ravens open on the road against the Broncos. Some have said the Ravens are being sent to the lion's den, having to play the revenge-minded Broncos after an angry offseason. Plus, there is the whole Peyton factor. But let's not forget how good the Ravens have been under John Harbaugh when getting extra time to prepare for a game. They have never lost a season opener and they are undefeated the week after the bye week. And, oh yeah, there was that whole Super Bowl thing. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

2. Playing the New York Jets then the Pittsburgh Steelers in a four-day span.

Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun

Because every NFL team gets at least one Thursday game, the Ravens aren't alone in the fact that they will have to play twice in a four-day span. But the challenge for them in late November will be that they will be playing two physical teams in potentially charged atmospheres in the same week. The Jets are rebuilding, but you know it will be an intense game with Rex Ryan coming back to town (assuming he still has a job). Then the Ravens host the rival Steelers four days later on Thanksgiving night, possibly with the division lead on the line. They are going to need every minute of the mini bye week that will follow.

Because every NFL team gets at least one Thursday game, the Ravens aren't alone in the fact that they will have to play twice in a four-day span. But the challenge for them in late November will be that they will be playing two physical teams in potentially charged atmospheres in the same week. The Jets are rebuilding, but you know it will be an intense game with Rex Ryan coming back to town (assuming he still has a job). Then the Ravens host the rival Steelers four days later on Thanksgiving night, possibly with the division lead on the line. They are going to need every minute of the mini bye week that will follow. (Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun)

The NFL schedule was released Thursday night, so now we not only know whom the Ravens are playing, but when. In most cases, the timing of those games doesn't really matter, but there are some tricky scheduling quirks in an already challenging schedule. No one said the road back to the Super Bowl would be easy, but in this week's Five for Friday, Matt Vensel lists the five biggest challenges they will face along the way.